Steel car construction



ooocooeoooooooooooooooe Nov. 8, 1938.

c J. scUDDER ET AL STEEL CAR CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 2l, 1935 TK/@-l.

2 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 8, 1938. c. J. scUDDER ET AL STEEL CAR CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 21, 1935 2 Sheets- Sheet 2 dhd Charles J :Scudder Patented Nov. 8, 1938 UNIT-ED as'rAT-as oel-*ICE l inventionrelates tosteel railroad car/con- 'struction-fthe charaoterifstie/features-s ofi t-hdnventio'n 'bein-gadapted for :th-e construction of -boX -fcars,f ventilatedA box cars; house, automobile and i: dr-othercarsffr A'prir-icibal'A object! of theinvention isA 'feto'lv provide a strong and rigid'ear'construction-that is relativelyl' of '-ligh't' Weight and 'with a V minimum l numberI ofeparts. "-To this: endL-Wefprovide acon- Mf struction 'which continues each of the sides of the 'wl l0 1 .ca-r to formfone-half"` ofy ithe car top; 'the abutting e iextremities offthefrespective' combined isi-de and AIVD:topI portions being united1 at thetransverse center i of the-'cantori fbyflnovelesecuring and reinforcing l vmeansf A further` object is -to provide `improved t 1 5 means to fventilatefthei car effectively; -t-heeventilating provision being effective-between the inside lining and-the outer steel-sheathing.' A still further object is to provide means foreifectively carrying off condensed -moisture which tends to 20 collecton the inside of the outer steel `sheathing e offfthe'carand otherexposed parts, such forma l-.tion 'of condensed moisture being particularlyexperienced when the cars are -loaded with Warm productspsuchea's hot flour that later cools down ,25Hto l:the-roadway temperatures. rPhe distinctive Ail#features'ofiourlinvention are adapted to be applied f1. asan=improved typeoffbody to any usual or lsuitable -steel under structure ofthe car. LIt is to r 'fbeuinde'rsto'od-that our-invention is adapted not 30:# only'toftheA building' ofnew 1- cars,l butto the rebui'ldingfofexisting-cars to providey our improved)- body or uppery construction." 'Theforegoing and @other objeets and advantages of the invention Will #be betterunderstood from the following detailed 35fildesoription-taken in connection with the accomfopanyingh'drawings', and the`distinctive features rfofnnovelty'iwillfbe thereafter pointed 'out'in the Eappended"claims.

#'-Referring'to' the drawings: l I0 Figure 1 is apartial side elevation with portions broken away,'0f a car body embodying the invention. i

Figure 2 is a transversesection also With por- .tions broken away, online 2--2 of Figure 1. W4" "Figur-e 3 is a fragmentary, longitudinal,V ver- 'ti'cal sectionL on arelatively enlargedvs'oale` at uithe top` of foneend of .the car and showing par- -ticularly .the .provision for ventilation. .t Figure liis a partial detail plan View of the Ventilating device of Figure 3 withithez'running boa-rd removed.

Figure 5I islan.; enlarged sectional detail of the structure shown in the lower left hand corner of 55 Figure 2.

if-@Figure 6 -is-anenlarged `.sectional detail. on line 1 Bri-Biof'Figure 2.

`:"`Fig-ure' Tis/fan enlarged sectional detail online .Jl 'Ifof Figure 1.

` Figure 8 is-an: enlarged sectional detail on line Is-.-8+-8-1of`:1gur 1; and

Figure 9V is an enlarged sectional detail of the l:-.-centralwtop portion.A as.' shown in Figure 2 and 'illustrating more -particularlythe provision forV securing the `two combined side and top portions Y. of .the car-.togethernand Vthe mounting of f the :runway thereover. f

f 'llxi'ndicatesll generally the under-frame structure of Athe ycar Whichlmayl be of usual or suitable eaeithern-builteup 1 or uunit steel construction. I yI ldenotes! the .sidesillssofi the under-frame. To ithese' sills; horizontally yextending Z-bars I2 are -rsecuredlInaearryinggout our invention We prowide afseriesioffuprightspaced apart Z-bars I3 -I which'. constitute?thevreinforcing frame Work of s:thetear;b'odyfbeingfsuitably. spaced apart as reuXzlquired forlproper.reinforcement along the length motthe'tear.:Itl is :to: be Ihere understood that fzrzflwh-ere -referenceis made to Z-bars, in the description'l of-lthe` bodystructure, this reference is .:w.tofl-be:lunderstood as .illustrative and notref. lstrictive andlstructuralS-bars of anysuitable crosssection maybe employed. l The Z-bars I3 are secured at their lowerends byvsuitable anglefbrack- .etsfor the llke'i` I4 Ytothe-.horizontally extending =bar's':l2. f

' In accordance with our invention the Z-'bars 'I 1I3.are'of a length-solas toffnot` only extend up the sidesof the carlbfodyrbut Yhalf-way over the top A- las:indicated'iatIiafbeing .for this purpose curved v .orbent at'the acar ycorners as indicated at I3b. Y`fia'IhelabuttingextremitiesIof these seriesof Z-bars indicated atl'3cz'aresecured together by suitable --ffxteinforoing ltiez.plates E14-so as to constitute a .1; strong'frigidV andfunitarybody frame Work With 1 i; a:rninimum.number offparts.v 'Atthe locality I3c `aol theflineloffjunction of the Z-bars I3 from the sa twon; si-desa. aw-reinforcing-fbar I5, illustratively .sshowna asl a .T-baiy-is secured. `IIi denotes the "isouterasteelf-'sheathing offthe car body which` in -v.iracco'rdance Swith our invention may also be formed JasL-onefisteelplate vfor'eaoh-side of the oar, such Asai.plateextending up` and -being' l:bent over the roof frame lWorkto constitute thecar roof.,l It is to be 1 ...noted'l Ltl'iat"1vve`fthusE simplify and strengthen the" lllup-penstruoture 'of= thgcarwith the elimination of :thewuse-of si'delplates customarily -used inbox, waveritilatedibox;fhouse; or= other cars Vand With'our myimprovedfone piece construction of sides and'lroof at the eaves of the car, we greatly strengthen the body structure permitting also the body to be made much lighter while preserving the requisite strength. The roof portions IBa of the outer sheathing I6 terminate in accordance with our invention, a small distance short of the transverse center of the car and their extremities are bent upward and outward to form anges as indicated at I1 to support the runningv board I8. While the flanges I1 are shown as bent outward, this is merely illustrative, and they might be bent inward within the contemplation of the invention. The spacing apart of the flanges I1 of the outer sheathing at the top of the car not only provides for the support of the running board but also is a part of the provision for providing ventilation for the space between the outer sheathing of the car and the inner lining or sheathing I9. This Ventilating provision comprises lab-yrinth castings 20 secured to the ends of the car top, the reinforcing T-bar I5 being out away as indicated at I5a to permit the location of these labyrinth castings. The running board I 8 extends over these labyrinth castings and the labyrinth form. thereof is such as to allow the air freely to enter and escape but to largely exclude dust, cinders, and snow. It will be understood that the motion of the car will assist the circulation giving it direction to front or rear corresponding to the movement of the car. Since the air channel thus formed under the running board is continuous from end to end and connects at the top with all of the spaces formed between th-e outer and inner sheathings, and the Z-bar supports of the sides of the car, free circulation of air will be set up. Such circulation of air is further insured and promoted by the provision of the troughs 20 at the base of the sides of the car Where the vertical Z members are united to the side sills, between the side sills and the side sheathing for the full length of the car at this point. The trough 20 thus formed, also serves to collect the condensed moisture that forms on the roof and side sheets of the car which will -flow downwardly and collect therein. A suitable number of holes 2| may be produced in the horizontal portion of the Z-bars I2 to permit such moisture to escape. Holes 22 may be provided in the webs of the side channels at the bases thereof to further facilitate the escape of the water. At the ends of the side sills somewhat larger holes 23 may be provided, arranged to be plugged if desired and adapted to permit the application of means to clean out the side troughs by air or water as may be desired. At the locality of the car doors, the Z-bars I3 at each side of the door extend the same as the others, with suitable bars shown as U bars 24, extending across the top of the door opening and suitably secured to the Z-bars I3. The ends of the car may be provided with usual outer sheathing iluted or otherwise formed for reinforcing effect as indicated at 25. As herein indicated, the running board I5 may be formed as a steel plate, the intermediate, transverse portion of which is supported by the riby of the T-bar I5. It is to be noted that our improved construction of running board including the upwardly and outwardly turn-ed ilanges I 'I at each side thereof, provides a convenient handhold extending the length of the car that may readily be grasped by a person who might slip while on the running board or roof, to protect himself. As herein shown, the inner sheathing I9 is of wood as desirable for box cars, but of course any suitable lining material may be used. The labyrinth ventilators 20 is to be understood as merely illustrative and intended to typify any suitable form of louvres, shutters or like devices adapted to be tted at the ends of the passage underneath the runningboard I8 to obstruct the entrance of foreign matter.

In the foregoing as well as other aspects, the

present embodiment of the invention, is to be understood in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

Having now described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A steel car construction comprising an under frame having side sills, upright frame members secured to said sills having extensions bent inward towards each other to abutting relation and secured together to constitute supports for the sides and roof of the car, continuous sheathing secured to said frame members at each side also bent inward over said frame bars to form the roof, said sheathing terminating in upwardly and then horizontally turned extremities short of the transverse center of the car, a runningboard resting upon and secured to the horizontal extremities of said sheathing constituting with such sheathing a unitary roof sheet for the car providing a Ventilating channel extending the length of the car, there being openings through the car ends registering with such channels, and an inner sheathing secured to said frame members, said Ventilating channel serving to ventilate the space between the inner and outer sheathings in the manner set forth.

2. A car construction comprising an underframing equipped with side sills, upright frame work members secured to said sills and bent to continue inward forming the roof support with their ends secured together, and inner and outer sheathings secured to said frame members forming continuous side and roof structures, said outer sheathing formed and having means associated therewith to provide continuous Ventilating passages extending the length of the car to ventilate completely the space between said sheathings, there being Z-bars fixed to the side sills with the upright frame bars secured to said Z-bars, said Z-bars and the outer sheathing constituting lengthwise troughs to collect moisture with proy vision for the discharge thereof.

3. A steel car construction comprising an under frame, upright frame bars secured thereto having extensions bent inward towards each other with their ends abutting and secured together, a reinforcing angle bar extending over the junction of said ends and secured thereto, and a unitary roof sheet composed of sheathing secured to said frame bars terminating short of the transverse center of the car in upwardly and horizontally out-turned extremities and a running board secured to said out-turned extremities serving as a complement of said unitary roof sheet and spaced above said frame bars to provide Ventilation, there being openings in the car ends registering with the passage so formed.

4. A steel car construction as defined in claim 3, wherein said reinforcing angle bar serves as a support for the intermediate extent of the running board. y

CHARLES J. SCUDDER.. EDWIN M. JENKINS. 

